10

Maintaining

Your

WARNING: Shut off the engine before performing any maintenance. To prevent accidental start-up, disconnect the spark plug boot.

IMPORTANT: If engine must be tipped to transport equipment or to inspect or remove grass, keep spark plug side of engine up. Transporting or tipping engine spark plug down may cause smoking, hard starting, spark plug fouling, or oil saturation of air cleaner.

Periodic inspection and adjustment of the engine is essential if high level performance is to be maintained. Regular maintenance will also ensure a long service life. The required service intervals and the kind of mainte- nance to be performed are described in the table below. Follow the hourly or calendar intervals, whichever occur first. More frequent service is required when operating in adverse conditions.

Engine

WARNING

Shut off the engine before performing any type of maintenance. To prevent accidental start-up, disconnect the spark plug boot.

Before tipping engine or equipment to drain oil, drain fuel from tank by

Maintenance Schedule

Tasks

First 5 hours

Each use or

Every season

Every season

Every season

Service Dates

 

every 5 hours

or 25 hours

or 50 hours

or 100 hours

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check Engine

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oil

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change Engine

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oil

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check Air

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cleaner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service Air

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cleaner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check Spark

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plug

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service Spark

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plug

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clean Finger

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guard

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clean Around

 

 

 

 

 

 

Muffler

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

† Service more frequently when used in dusty areas.

†† If operating under heavy load or high ambient temperature.

running engine until fuel tank is empty.

IMPORTANT: Be sure to check engine on a level surface with the engine stopped. Drain the oil while the engine is still warm to assure rapid and complete draining.

Oil Fill Cap

Drain

Level

Plug

 

Figure 10-1: Changing the oil.

Oil Service

Check oil level regularly.

Be sure correct oil level is maintained. Check every five hours or daily before starting engine. See oil checking procedure in the Operation section.

Oil Change

IMPORTANT: Be sure to check engine on a level surface with the engine stopped. Drain the oil while the engine is still warm to assure rapid and complete draining.

1.Remove oil fill cap and drain oil by either removing drain plug or turning mower on its side (air cleaner side up) and allowing oil to drain into a suitable container, Figure 10-1.

WARNING: Before tipping engine or equipment to drain oil, drain fuel from tank by running engine until fuel tank is empty.

2.Reinstall the drain plug (if removed), and tighten it securely.

3.Refill with the recommended oil (see Operation section) and check the oil level, Figure 10-1.

4.Reinstall the oil fill cap securely.

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MTD 54M warranty Maintaining Your, Oil Service, Oil Change, Running engine until fuel tank is empty